MeltzerWoods-9 blog post Dec 2025
Meltzer Woods spider by Daniel Woody
You Can Help Protect Reservoirs of Biological Diversity
Written By: John Bacone
Date Published: December 2, 2025
John Bacone
Our board member, John Bacone, reflects on conserving key natural areas. He led the Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves for over four decades.
Years ago, when I was working in the Indiana DNR Division of Nature Preserves (DNP), I asked Bob Waltz, the State Entomologist, how we could protect Indiana’s rarest species of insects. DNP’s mission is to protect at least one of every type of natural community (prairies, swamps, bogs, fens, old growth forests, etc.) and the habitats of as many of Indiana’s rarest animal species as possible. That includes birds, mammals, herptiles (reptiles and amphibians)—as well as the insects I asked Bob about.
Bob said, “Just keep on doing what you’ve been doing—protecting high-quality natural areas. They are reservoirs of biodiversity. That’s where the rare insects will be. You won’t find them in fencerows, farm fields, or city lots.”
That was heartening, since that was exactly our goal.
And it turned out to be true. We enlisted the help of beetle experts, butterfly experts, and dragonfly experts. As they inventoried the protected nature preserves, they found rare beetles, butterflies, dragonflies, and other rare insect species.
Now that I’m retired, I have been fortunate to be able to serve on the board of directors for Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI). It’s exhilarating to continue to be involved with land protection. Beyond board meetings, I am occasionally also involved with inventory work and landowner contact.
In my volunteer capacity with the land trust, I get to see Bob Waltz’s long-ago reassurances continually confirmed. As an example, Dr. Marc Milne, a Professor of Biology at the University of Indianapolis, has conducted several spider inventories at CILTI preserves. On conservation land in Franklin County, he just found several rare species. One spider is state-endangered, and another was previously known to occur only in Appalachia. Earlier, in Johnson County, he conducted surveys within the Hills of Gold, which turned up several spider species completely new to science!
Biodiversity like that is increasingly threatened, and the land trust’s work to protect these places is only getting more crucial all the time.
It can take a long time to complete the protection of places that hold discoveries like these. While I was working in the Division of Nature Preserves for over 40 years, I realized how important it was to build relationships with the owners of natural areas. Most of the owners were excited to learn that they owned a place that was very special. The owners would generously allow us to visit and study their land. But in many cases, they politely declined to sell.
We were patient. We were persistent. We built up personally friendly relationships. Sometimes, eventually, the owner would agree to sell. They knew they had something special, and they wanted to see it conserved. So, instead of selling to a developer, they chose to sell it with the knowledge that it would be permanently protected.
CILTI has a track record of success with building on these relationships. A great example was the protection of Meltzer Woods, one of the few old growth forests remaining in Indiana. Bill Barnes, DNP’s first Director, worked with the Meltzer family starting in the 1960s. Eventually, after decades, the Meltzers agreed to work with CILTI, and now Meltzer Woods is protected in perpetuity as a state-dedicated nature preserve.
CILTI continues to work to protect high-quality natural areas, and critical additions to existing nature preserves, in partnership with DNP and other conservation allies. It takes resources to do this long-term work, which can take years or even decades to come to fruition. That’s where all of us CILTI members and supporters are important.
We need your help as we seek donations to help us with these critical land protection projects. This is especially timely right now, as we have a matching opportunity. If you donate before Dec. 31, 2025, your generosity will be doubled, thanks to the Efroymson Family Fund’s $350,000 matching challenge grant. Please help us save more of the “Original Indiana.” Thank you.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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